Fabulous Wines, Travel Consultants & Hermes Bags

Hello My Lovely's!

Yes, here I am once again, after way too many weeks absent. Although, I notice I'm not the only one. :-) I think about you both so often and miss you terribly, especially when something happens, one of those inside jokes that only the three of us would get. Heavy sigh... June cannot get here fast enough! The great thing is that after the first of the year, it's all downhill from there! But, you know how I am, it want be real until I have those tickets in my hands!

Candygirl... Bless your little sweet heart! I know exactly who you were talking about, when you mentioned CZ, and I can only imagine enduring an evening with that set. I agree, you need to redo your contract and be super specific about what you will and won't do, otherwise people just take advantage of your good nature. It's really hard to be in business for yourself. You want to go that extra mile and give good customer service, but you really do have to draw a line, or people just walk all over you. It's sounds like you need a break, some time away from the job. Even if it's just a long weekend at home enjoying some down time and a Sex and City marathon. Hopefully over the holidays you can enjoy some time with the family and re-energize yourself a little... I sure hope so!

Gypsy... How goes the attempts to be Cajun free??? I'm thinking, by looking at your choice of music lately, that someone is a little twitterpated. :-) Sounds like things at the Inn are going well, I'm so glad you've found something you enjoy doing and I know you're awesome at it! Loved the pic you sent me with the new coral lipstick, absolutely fabulous! So, what's on your horizon for the holiday, will you have some time off? I hope so, it's always nice to get a few days just to relax and do nothing. I was thinking about you the other day, while looking at pictures, are still doing your photography? I hope so, you really have such a beautiful eye.

Life at the C's is hectic as usual, like we all seem to be lately, but things are good. We got to spend some time with the Kiddo's recently, had a really nice family dinner. I went all out and made a special Italian meal. Osso Buco with Baked Mushroom Risotto, and for dessert, Mascarpone Mousse with Balsamic Strawberries and a delicious Italian red wine with dinner, and Port with dessert. It was delicious! I'm back into trying a different new wine once a month, I've forgotten how much fun that can be. We've gotten into the same old routines and nice to break out a little and do something different. Hence the Italian fare, I'm also trying to cook some new things and advance my culinary skills, trust me, they need it! I don't know about you guys, but I find myself making the same thing every week and gets boring. So, send me some recipes of different things you've tried! Did I tell you I've recently applied for job as a Travel Consultant? Had to go through all these interviews and testing, but passed everything. They want to hire me, but because we have the trip planned in June they want to wait until after we return so that it doesn't interfere with the training so, another vocation. I think I would really enjoy working in the travel industry, plus the perks are really good! I'll keep you posted. Can I just say, I really want and Hermes bag, but how ridiculous is it that they cost anywhere from $6,000 t0 $66,000! Good grief, that's a house! Can you say, knockoff??? I really like the look of them, but even if I had $6,000 to blow on a handbag, there is just no way! It's crazy that just because something has a designer name it costs a fortune! I think you can be just as fabulous shopping at Thrift Town! I've found some amazing things there! Wish they had one here! I definitely will be making a visit when we come home. All of our Kiddo's are doing good... B&S are settling into married life and seem really happy. They just got a miniature long haired Chihuahua named GiGi, she came to dinner too. She's so adorable, I wanted to put her in my pocket and keep her. :-) A&C are good, just talked to them, staying busy and looking forward to a break over the holiday. They're planning their trip here for next October. It will so nice to have all our Kiddos on the same continent at one time! B&JL are doing good, still no closer to a proposal yet. B just got a new job working for a mine up north, he'll be doing scaffolding, the pay is really good, but worry about him. Seems like both of our Boy's enjoy the dangerous work. :-( Whatcha gonna do? When they get old enough to make their own choices, you just have to step aside and pray a lot! Well, my Girlies, that's pretty much the jest of life down under at the moment. I sure hope these next 5 months fly by, can't wait to see you both and all of the Family. Give everybody our love and know that my thoughts and prayers are always with each of you.

Love you so much!

TOWFL

"What in the heck am I doing here? " A question I am asking myself alot lately.

Hello my girlies! I am finally back! Wow! Has it been so long? Where is time going?
And as I mentioned in the title - " What the heck am I doing here?" This is a question I have been asking myself so much lately concerning my business. Do you both ever feel like you are working and working and working without alot to show for it and in the process of it all you miss out on the everyday things like sunrises and sunsets ( Most days I am out before one and still in after the other ) and just being able to sit and do nothing and think about nothing and just enjoy a cup of coffee from start to finish without it going cold over and over? I am so sure you both can relate at one time or another. This has been fun at times, rewarding at times, and a huge blessing at times, but it is just soooo hard. I think that I am just not up to the demands of it sometimes. Such as this past weekend.......
O.K...Blondie, you so know the person who hired me for this job....think about the initials...CZ....library...intimidation....rudeness....not one of our favorites...to put it in other words...we would have rather plowed the south 40 that gotten this icy uppity stare...LOL....but, as what happens with most people like this that used to intimidate us, they mellow with age and actually turn out to be pretty nice in the older years...LOL...She actually hugged me! Imagine that?
It was her daughter's second marriage and supposed to be a "small quiet affair at a condo in Perdido Key...about 40 guests at the most....Wellllll....that turned to 55 three days before and actually turned into 80 - 100!!!It was just Ringo and I and we ran our butts off!...and then I was asked to pour wine from the bar the night before which left Ringo dealing with the buffet alone....Help!!!!! It was a beautiful lounge overlooking the gulf that had a baby grand piano and a bar and was decorated amazingly! The wedding took place one floor down in an atrium that you could look down on from the lounge, so the guests could hear everything we said and likewise...LOL...well, during the wedding I dropped a glass lid to a chafer on the marble floor and it shattered to a million pieces just moments before the wedding was over! I scrambled to find a broom and we got it cleaned up just in the nick of time..I am so sure that they heard my Margaret yip in the middle of the vows LOL...the wedding was supposed to begin at two and end about 2:30 - 3:00...it was over @ 2:15!!!! And people were literally scrambling to get up the elevator to get to the beer ( which at this fancy little affair, they drug up in ice chests and was in cans rather than bottles LOL and wine! I didn't even have time to apply fresh lipstick or get pictures of anything! LOL Well, all of these snooty girls and guys started coming up the the bar and asking for wine that I couldn't even pronounce...LOL...Pino what? Chardo Who? The only ones I was familiar with was moscato, merlot, and there was amazingly a bottle of arbour mist thrown in the mishmosh of what they had purchased...LOL LOL..( That actually went home to live with me in exchange for all of the BS indured at the bar, such as a very drunk 65 or so year old man that kept asking if I worked there and winking at me..LOL....And then you had your older socialites, many of whom we remember well that came in the library way back when ( you would have remembered them all Blondie) coming up and asking do you have asdfghj&^%$#@ wine? LOL...so, they simply settled with "no mam, I have melot, moscato, california white, chardonay, sweet red." And of course I got a drawn out Bay Minette-style "oooooooohhhhhh." Well, give me merlot, I suppose." Geez!!!!! I didn't buy this cheap selection! LOL To make it worse, I cannot uncork a bottle to save my life! I always wind up with my cork stuck down in the bottle and cork shavings in the wine when I finally get it out, so I had to keep running to the kitchen to get my Ringo to uncork for me...Needless to say, he was really crabby for having to deal with replenishing the buffet alone and didn't much like stopping to uncork for me...LOL.
So, I believe I need using a corkscrew lessons as well as a crash course in wine...LOL The funny thing is, most of the people from the past that used to intimidate me so just mildly irritated me and I realized that they were no better than anyone else and even though they would like people to think they are all social and well versed, many of them butchered these wine names worse than me and I just wanted to crack up laughing every time I had one of them ask for Pinot Noir and pronounced it something like " Penis Eleanor" or Muscato like " Moosekatoe" and may as well have said mousekateer..LOL...LOL. It was definitely an evening I will never forget! There was not a bit of food left over and just enough to pack up a picnic basket for the bride and groom...We finished cleaning, took out 12 large bags of trash, most of which were empty beer cans..lol..and left them all watching the LSU game on the big screen TV that rose up out of the wall.they were fascinated with that little gadget and kept letting it up and down..LOL..I almost dropped a wine glass when one of them yelled a " Who DAT???" ...who in the world watches a football game during a wedding reception???!!! ( They also were given 10 cases of beer for a wedding present that the Bride's mother was scandalized over that someone put on top of the Baby Grand Piano and she ran frantically to me and asked for something large enough to cover it up with.
All I had was a white silk tablecloth...She covered it nicely with that stomping and fuming the whole time. LOL As with my earlier experience with the Certain Country Club in the woods of our hometown, LOL...You just can't take the redneck out of some people. There are two types...good old country redneck, and uppity redneck...I call them the " red carpet rednecks " LOL LOL LOL
...... And then, I got back up at 4 yesterday morning and had a huge stacked cake and a 1/2 sheet birthday cake due out by 10, as well as cleaning up and putting away from the night before....when I finally got home yesterday, I fell into bed and mindlessly watched episodes of Sex In The City and slept all afternoon. Ringo told me that we both seem to be walking around like Zombies lately with our arms stuck out in front of us- me saying make more cakes...need more icing...him saying more green beans, more potatoes, more meat...LOL...LOL...He is working 12 - 14 hours a day, six days a week on " Salary" that breaks down to be way less than minimum wage per hour and it's really taking it's toll on him. I am worried about how hard he is working and still trying to help me in our business. Maybe it will get better soon. Probably not. Catering is just hard. And it's one of the most
underestimated, thankless, taken for granted jobs that there are. People truly don't realize what is involved and most of the time try to cheap you down on the menu, not realizing that it's not really about the cost of the food, it's the service and work involved. Most of the time you wind up doing many things that your weren't paid to do just to make sure everything goes off smoothly. People just take for granted that they can magically show up and everything will be done, some of which they were supposed to take care of and didn't and of course you don't get paid for it, nor do you get paid for the extra 50 people that showed up that you magically had enough food for. ( I am so revising my contract this week!!! ) And then there are those who are three feet from a garbage can but leave a table full of food, plates, cups, napkins and beer cans and wine glasses and hold up their hand from across the room and expect you to come clear it away for them and when you do, ask you to bring them more beer...and in your head you are having an Ally McBeal moment and telling them, " I am not an FN waitress buddy! Get it yourself! " and biting your tongue, you say, " Sir, the ice chests are by the bar. It is self-serve so you may choose which type you would like. " They glare at you and get up and get it themselves mumbling!
And another question....who in the hell came up with monogrammed beer koozies?!!!!!
Totally redneck!!!!! I wish weddings would just go back to sweet, gentle afternoon affairs with punch, cake, nuts and mints and be classy and elegant and not a drunken episode of Roseanne meets Dynasty! LOL
Geez!!!!! I think I just climbed up on my soapbox again! LOL...I will step down now and go grab another cup of coffee and get a shower and get ready to go in and make 100 red velvet cake balls and wish you both a happy Monday. I so wish you both could be at the shop with me today to drink coffee and discuss these things...LOL...It would be so much fun! And I think it would so totally make me feel better to have both your perspectives and empathy on how to deal with these catering jobs that kick my fanny!
I love you both so much! Thank you for reading my rant! Please type a rant of your own and I will read it with gladness. :)
Candy Girl ( Who is thinking of changing her name )

hearts, stars, love & light

Darlings,

Hope this finds everyone doing wonderfully well. I am busy and have nothing to complain
about really ('cept I miss my baby) but will see him soon.
The weather has turned chilly, but I am looking forward to my winter.
I have also started a brutal D.I.E.T. ! There I said that nasty word....
No sugar, no wheat... AND EXERCISE! I MEAN IT... That means no LIGHT AND CAKE SCRAPS
candy girl :( that's the hardest thing of all. I feel mentally ready for the endeavor.
So if I can have a good few weeks, I will be happy. Not a lot going on otherwise.
The Hotel is going well and is proving challenging in the best possible way. My
biggest thing now is looking forward to New York. We will see what that brings.
Other than that, I have been reading a lot, and enjoying that immensely.
So not much to report here, just missing my girls and wanting to send my love and let
you guys know I am thinking about you. Love and hugs to all the family.

hearts and stars, love and light

Gypsy

Roller Coasters, The "One Life to Live of Cupcakes" & Humble Apologies

Well, My Dearest Darlings, here I am, finally! I'm so sorry for the long absence, sometimes there's just not enough hours in the day. If there is, I sure haven't been able to find them lately. Gypsy mention "the roller coaster" in her last post, yep, that pretty much sums up life for all of us.

I went back and re-read your posts, Candy Girl, look at you "One Life to Live Cupcakes!" I reckon that's some pretty serious compliments! :-) I can totally get the "cupcake craze" there something a bit whimsical & different, I people love that! By the way, I haven't forgot about "Hello Kitty's!" It was good to hear that you, Ringo and the Girl's are all doing well. I've been thinking about Jess, I remember loosing my first patient I had a really similar experience with some cold head Nurse telling me I "better toughen up and learn to detach my feelings." I told her that when that happened, I'd leave Nursing. It's a hard job for someone who genuinely cares about people and has a giving, soft heart, but it's the kind of job that can't be done well without those two vital qualities. So, you tell Jess to never lose that caring, loving spirit! You've been super busy, haven't you??? I reckon that a good & bad thing, good for business, bad for your chances to rest and regroup! I'm glad you're still finding some time for yourself, even if it's just little things, that's so important... And hey, bad Saturday is a necessity! ;-)

Gypsy, I'm glad to hear that things are looking up for you. Sorry to hear that meeting the Representative, or whatever he is, didn't go like you hoped. Why exactly was it "uncomfortable?" I think I need more details on that one. I was really glad to hear your Baby is coming home. I know you miss him so much! I know I miss mine! When exactly do you leave for NY? I know you'll be glad to get your Documentary going. Can't wait to see the finished product. Thanks for staying after me to get back to the blog, I've been away far too long and appreciate the, not so gentle, nudge. ;-)

So, what's been happening "Down Under?" Well, CC finally finished the big job he's been working on for the last 2 months this week! YAY! I've really not enjoyed being here on my own. Life for us is getting back to normal slowly. The Jewelery business is going really well and growing in leaps & bounds! Here's hoping it continues! It's really great, we're dealing with quite a lot of International business, which is pretty cool. Right now, we're just working to keep it manageable. Working hard on our plan to come home this Summer for a visit. We'll work our visit in with A & N's wedding. We've started looking at flights, everything is so expensive! I think we're going to go through New Zealand this time and spend some time with CC family. I'm really excited about this, I've always wanted to visit there and getting to know the family better will be really nice. It's hard to believe it's only 6 months away! Where does the time go??? I still haven't figured that one out. :-/ I'm thinking about applying for a job at the local Library. They have an opening for an Assistant, which doesn't come open that often. It would be a nice job to help out until we make the move back home. I'll keep you posted. Well, my loves, that's the jest of life in Oz. I promise I'll try very hard to never go this long without writing again. Hope this finds you both, and the Families, all doing well. I sure do love and miss you very much!

Talk to you soon!

TOWFL

Confusional flubberings from a Gypsy Gal

Dearest Darlings,

Well we have been remiss in our blogging. Seems as though life is a rollercoaster sometimes and the best you can do is just hang on for dear life. There is so much to tell I dont know where to start. I am grateful for my job and the opportunity to bring this BEAUTIFUL historic Inn back to glory, and that is fun and challenging. Blondie, you dont know a lot of man details like Candygirl does, but BELIEVE me it has been a has been a rough road too. Not really worrying about much now though, just learning the lesson of taking one day at a time and trying to make something good happen. Baby Boy seems to be doing well and coming back home for a couple of days.
Went to the Gulf with the Lobbyist and that was just WEIRD... now there is the NYC Jew DOCTOR...
but que sera sera and shit... Know what I am sayin'?

Gettin ready to go to NYC soon start on my Documentary, and getting to interview my new favorite band, The Carolina Chocolate Drops. They won the 2011 Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album. They are really incredible look them up on youtube and be sure to listen to a tune called "Knockin"

I have found the perfect red dress that is 4 sizes smaller than my bodacious booty - HOWEVER I have 3 months and the encouragement of Scott, mY gay SOULMATE....LOL..!! Boy oh boy! I am truly the Gypsy of the bunch I guess.

So how are things with my girls? Blondie you have been so way very silent.... s'up wid DAT?

OH BTW, I get a special delivery package and its a beautiful diamond solitaire from Kirby...he said he bought it for me an could never sell it... I said "I CAN".. LOL... but REALLY I think I will have it turned into a necklace or something...

So we are redoing the Carriage house at the Inn and I have a busy week ahead of me. I am way very grateful and finding my way. Miss my girls though cuz people are gettin on my last damn nerve and stuff...

Love you both soooooooooooooooooooo much!!

Gypsy!!

Cupcakes and such...

Hello girlies! I hope this finds you both doing well and enjoying this beautiful Sunday. I have missed you both so very much here! PLEASE post soon!!! Here, after having slept for 12 hours ( LOL Bad day yesterday followed by Bad Saturday ) I am up having my first cup of coffee and trying to decide if I want to stay home and be lazy today or go hunting for pumpkins and corn stalks to decorate the front porch...Hmmmmm....we will see if I can move a little faster in a little while what the day will hold. This morning I feel like I have been steamrolled! Ugh!
I have to rouse MB up soon...I promised that we would make waffles this morning. Do you both remember the story of closet family? LOL I recently on a whim bought a waffle iron as an ode to "Closet Mama". We have had a good time making waffles and remembering the antics of closet family...LOL...Today's will be left over batter from a caramel apple cake topped with apple pie filling...sound good? I hope so. Yesterday, I made the batter for a dozen cupcakes for the sweetest young man. Last year, I made his and his wife's cupcake tower and groom's cake for their wedding. It is their first anniversary and he wanted to give her pearl stud earrings. He called to ask if I could decorate the other cupcakes with pearls like last year and put the earrings in a cupcake in the center of the group for her to find. I just hope she didn't swallow them!!! It was so sweet and romantic! He said she had wanted the pearls for a long time and he wanted to surprise her with her favorite cupcake. He promised me he wouldn't let her swallow them! LOL I love sweet stories.I hope they celebrate many more sweet anniversaries...Another sweet story is that I did another cupcake tower last weekend for a wedding and the bride told me her Grandmother came up to her during the reception and pointed at it and said, " Carla, that looks like something off of One Life To Live! How glamorous! " LOL...That definitely gave me a chuckle for the day. She said her granny was totally amazed that you could get by with cupcakes for a wedding! LOL Cupcakes seem to be the rave lately...I had had girls from the courthouse come crashing through the door this week like Kramer frantic for them and the looks on their face when they saw pumpkin muffins and caramel apple muffins in the case instead of cupcakes were priceless! Like sheer horror! I was out of containers!!! LOL Last week I did about 200...this week starts off with a bang on Tuesday with 60....Geez! Who would have thought cupcakes would be so sought after?
My Jess came home last weekend to celebrate her birthday. I made her a "Starry Night Cake" and didn't get a picture of it! Van Gough would probably have a duck if he could see his masterpiece copied onto cake..LOL..It was definitely interesting to say the least. We had such a good time together. MB ran her ragged with games and concerts and such, but she was so glad to get to see her little sister play. On Sunday, we went homecoming dress shopping for MB and went to R&R's on the Causeway for lunch! I just love their fried pickles!!!
Dress shopping with MB was tiring to say the least! She finally decided on a knee length one shoulder strap dress that was a champagne color and put purple heels and
jewelry with it. She was beautiful and so grown up looking! Like " off of One Life To Live!" LOL Her boyfriend bought a purple tie to match...LOL...He was so proud to give her a wrist band of roses with purple ribbon..He said, " Mama had to do some fancy footwork to get this baby, Miss K." It was so sweet! When they were leaving for the dance, Dana looked at him and did the Guido thing like " I'm watching you, man." He had her home exactly to the minute on time...LOL. Verdict is still out on the boyfriend, but to his credit, he is trying...let's see, MB and Jess told him he needed to prove to us he wasn't a "neanderthal with no shut up filter"...LOL...So, he is really trying to be good while he is around us...Most boys pretend to be mannerly and good during parent visits and they never get to see the neanderthal come out..LOL...I guess we got to see the neanderthal first and manners second...LOL...but, as with all teenage romances, I am not sure how long it will last, especially since MB keeps mentioning a certain little red haired boy who grew 3 inches over the summer and whose voice had changed from soprano to baritone...lol...Hmmmm....Me and his Mama are getting out goats ready...LOL.
Jess has had a tough week at work and had to call and talk it through. Her first patient passed away this week. He was a CF patient that had been coming to the hospital since he was 6 and turned 18 a few weeks ago. They moved him to the adult hospital and he only lasted six months there. She was so upset. She had gotten to know him really well. Alot of the nurses went to the funeral. She said her charge nurse told her she was too emotional and attached and she needed to stop reacting in that way. Something seems so wrong with that comment. I am sure in time she will come to terms with grief over losing a patient, but come on! This young man was her first patient when she started the job and was her patient many times after and they had formed a friendship. A little different from a normal shift where you care for someone and may never see them again. Some of these kids are in constantly and they do form a bond with them. I am so proud of my daughter that she has a heart for these kids and cries when they cry. I know that she is truly doing what God wants her to do with her life.
Well, I guess I should go now and go get MB out of bed...She had a band competition yesterday and came home late, but the scored 1's, and she was totally happy! So proud of my baby!
I love you both and wish you could be here for breakfast with us!
Have a wonderful day!

Candygirl

Hi Girlies! Don't you just love this picture? Simply -------WE NEED TO GET TOGETHER FOR A GOOD OLD VISIT! I love you both and so wish we could all get together over a pot of tea.

Soon?

Love you,
Candygirl

Old things new and Seasonal Freedoms

Dearests,

I have enjoyed the company of my 2 besties SO VERY MUCH as of late. There is nothing like the laughter, love, and encouragement that kindred spirits give to one another.

Candygirl - You looked just fabulous today in your Purples and all! And Blondie we want to know what your new outfit looks like.

I think HATS are a fabulous idea... who gives a rats azz what others think?!I bought 2 fabulous Clouche Style last year. One is black and has a band I can attach flowers or pendants to. I am thinking about a bright red bunch of cherries, reminiscient of the 40's (spelling?)

My Darlings... read these words... and drink them in and ask yourselves... if we don't do it... who will?

We are the music-makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers,
And sitting by desolate streams;
World-losers and world-forsakers,
On whom the pale moon gleams:
Yet we are the movers and shakers
Of the world for ever, it seems ...

My treasures... we are the music makers of our generation. Just accept it and find the appropriate hat :)

love love love
Gypsy

Hats

Good morning, Girlies!
I hope this finds you both enjoying maybe your second or third cup of our beverage of choice...lol...well, I won't say it's the only beverage of choice, just the morning one..lol.
I have just come inside from sitting on the front porch watching the sunrise while a cat wrapped itself over and over around my legs ( why on earth do cats do that? they just won't let you sit outside in peace...lol...but, it's really sweet the way "Puppy" ( yes, you guys remember Puppy don't ya? ) always does this...it's like he is so in love with you that he can't contain himself...he reminds me of a whirling dervish...LOL. When Ringo and I sit outside and he does this to him, he will pick him up and toss him many times and he just keeps coming back..He calls him a few names, of course..I always say, "Awww, he loves you!..He always says, " No, he's just marking his territory!"...LOL....I have to disagree...I think Puppy just loves him...simple as that.
It's like Puppy is saying " Nothing is going to stop me from loving you!
Nothing! You can throw me 50 feet away and I will just come back!"
And so, this morning I am drinking a toast to Puppy from my owl mug full of Folgers....may we always be as relentless with the showing of our love to others as Puppy.
Girls, I am so wanting a new hat for the winter...looking up beautiful outfits for Blondie made me want one...:) I wish that people were more accepting of hats here... What is wrong with people here? Hats were the foundation of a gentle southern lady's wardrobe in days gone by...I can't tell you how many of them I found in my attic when we moved in here..They were beautiful! The little pill box hats of the 50's and 60's like Jackie O wore...They were damaged beyond repair, but it was so neat to imagine what they looked like on the lady of the house complete with smart little sleeveless dress and gloves.. It's like, if you wear a hat here now, you better have a reason. ( Ex: Your wedding veil, sun hat at the beach, baseball cap at football games..that's about all that is accepted here )... A beautiful, vintage hat will get you looked at funny, like " She's got to not be from here, look at that funny hat!"....and a redneck camo hat will not get a second look. Why is that? I think I am going to buy me a fabulous hat and I am going to wear it and if I get looked at like I am the eccentric old bag lady that makes cupcakes, then so be it! Are you with me girls?
And.....I have decided today to go with a more dramatic ( as Gypsy called it last night lol ) eyeshadow color ...purple!!! I am so stuck in a rut with my makeup colors... And so, I will leave you both with wishes for a wonderful day and I am going to go now and apply my purple eyes and get ready for the day...lol.
So excited....today is Mermaid painting class! :) LOL I made mermaid cupcakes to take to everyone...LOL...I know, I will probably be looked at strangely...may as well wear a hat and do it up right, huh? LOL
Love you both dearly!
Candygirl.

Resolutions, Hat's & "Scents" of Self

Good Morning My Sunshines!

Although it's night here, I know your days are just beginning and I hope you both have spectacular ones! Since my days & nights are mixed up I'm on the same schedule with you. I'm just having my first coffee of the day, getting ready to head to work. I awoke with a new strange sense of resolve... I find my days running into each other and I've simply gotten into the routine of sliding along with them. I find myself not taking time to put on makeup, or dress up, I practically live in my flannel jammies, and it has to stop! I miss my old "Pink" self, the one who use to be audacious and energetic. I miss feeling like myself. So, today begins a new stage for me, I've ordered a big honkin bottle of my Tresor, I'm going shopping for a new outfit, and tomorrow begins my new exercise routine. Hell, I may even buy a new hat! I know how CC feels about my Tresor and I also took on board everything both of you said in this regard, but I feel as if the last 4 years have been all about making sacrifices and I think I've proven that I'm willing to do this on the more important issues, but when it comes down to a little thing like perfume that makes me feel confident and self assured, then that is where I draw my line in the sand! I need that confidence and that determination to go, and do, and feel good about myself! I want to have energy and I want to feel like going snorkeling with my husband, and on hikes. I want to feel like doing for other people, making meals and having friends over, helping out when somebody is sick, or going through a difficult time. In other words... I'm sick and tired of feeling sick and tired! I mean this in the most literal sense! I need a make-over from the inside out! So, Girls... I'm enlisting your help, send me your thoughts, your ideas, your words of wisdom, cause I'm listening!

Candygirl, I'm so sorry about Muffy, but there's a pup out there just for you and when the time is right, you won't hesitate! And I would so love to able to drop by your beautiful little shop and have coffee and help with the candy and cupcakes! Hopefully, some day really soon!

Gypsy... I know your mind must be in a million different directions right now, but it's good to know that you feel confident about your future with TC & the Miss Muffets! :-) Your time is getting really close now, when exactly do you leave???


I love you both dearly and I know that each of you are going through your own emotional ups & downs so, I truly appreciate your always being there for me. Talk to you soon!

All My Love,

TOWFL

Coffee...4A.M. Wedding Reception Proposals and Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Good morning, girlies!
Happy Friday! ( Well, probably Saturday where Blondie is...lol )
This morning, I have been up super early typing and emailing wedding reception proposals and drinking lots of coffee! A busy day ahead complete with a wedding and groom's cake, 200 chocolate dipped strawberries and some early morning muffins thrown in the mix! Ugh!!! I will be glad when today is over!
Tomorrow, after work, I am driving baby sister E around to look at houses and land in the area! She is considering buying some land and building between here and Stapleton...I so hope they do! I would love to have her close by!
Gypsy, I awoke to terrible news on my facebook wall....Muffy was adopted yesterday!!!! I am so happy for her, but sad for me....I guess visiting her with treats and trying to win her affection didn't warrant a call from them to let me know someone wanted her...I am so happy for the little ragamuffin, but thinking that maybe that particular one wasn't meant for me...who knows....maybe I will go visit Mason...:) Anyways, I will continue looking for the perfect little dog to "mother"....I think it is just what I need at this point in my life. I so enjoyed our discussion over coffee yesterday about old boyfriends, Gypsy...LOL...OMG, there are certainly those I do not care to remember and so I will lighten up just a little on MB and her scruffy choice of a man at the moment...lol. I love when you come by the shop for coffee and to sample the latest cupcake creation:) My only wish is that Blondie could be there too. How great would that be! Blondie, we have a spot waiting for you....Take your beautiful winding Fall road home soon!
I loved that picture! I hope you are doing well today and have located a supply of Pelligrino :)
Well my girlies, I need to go for now and go bake muffins and tackle this day!
I will see you here again soon.
Love and hugs to you both!
Candy girl

Melancholy Chocolate and the passages of years

Hunny Bunnies!

Now SEE! This is the way it is suppose to be!! All of us visiting and sharing our bits and pieces that comprise the whole of who we are.

I am ready for fall too! LOT of changes coming and although I am mostly thrilled, I find myself carrying a little melancholy in a gunny sack these past few days (kinda like Candygirl carrying her headache in a bottle)

Seeing 6 of the 7 sisters yesterday was so grand but at the same time to some (like my momma and yours CG) getting older and their health declining, having a hard time getting to their feet and all a little shaky just reminds me of the passage of time and while I am so grateful, it's still hard sometimes - so bittersweet- to think of time. It is certainly gaining momentum as we get older, isn't it?
This stuck in the middle time - between young and old - we all seem to find ourselves is strange isnt it? Is it just me or do things seem off kilter? Maybe it's just old Aunt Flo (the she bitch from hell)and nothing that peanut m&ms won't aright... but how dear these days... and how we all need to be together... I still feel like we will all be in the same town or close by at some point. We are a unique bunch of women who see the world a little differently than most. I am sure once I get settled with TK and the Ms Muffets life will take off like a rocket but for now... that winding Fall trail you posted Blondie seems like the perfect place for 3 kindreds to walk down memory lane together.

Much love,

Gyps

PS CG... take the dog :)

Laughter, Tears & The Road Home

My Precious Kindreds!

I'm sitting here with my cup of coffee, in most my prized "Alabama" mug, and reading your recent blogs. I keep see-sawing between laughter and tears! Oh how I miss my Girls! :*-) This is just what what I needed today, a little "Girl Time!"

Gypsy, I'm so happy that things are going good for you, TK & Kiddos! I know you're going to be so very happy together, there is no doubt in my mind! I can just see you tucked up in your Victorian house, drying wild flowers, making smores, doll clothes, giving makeup lessons, and sitting around a roaring fire with your Honey at night after the house is all quiet just soaking up the day together... Among other things ;-) And by the way, I miss those Goozlebugs too! :-) I so loved seeing you today, even if it was just for a few minutes, it made my day! And I must say, you look so good in love, it agrees with you! :-) I truly feel for you and Candygirl, trying to cope with letting go of your Babies! It does just happen so quickly, there's no time to prepare your mind, or your heart. I do know this for certain, no matter how old they are, they never stop needing their Mama's!

Candygirl, I enjoyed talking to you today too! It was wonderful to catch up for a few minutes, I've missed you so much! Hope things went well with your new client today! Thanks for your sweet words, they meant so very much! I think about that day when I brought AB home and it just blows my mind to see him all grown up, married, and possibly having children of his own! Nothing prepares you for that. I think all of us still trying to come to terms with this, I'm not really sure you ever do. You said it Candygirl, "that desire to Mother never goes away." And we all have it in spades! I know you worry about MB & the "bad boys," but she'll find her gumption! Most all Girls, who were brought up right, feel the need to give everybody a chance to prove themselves and you know how it is when you first start being interested in boys, look back at some of our choices :-/ Until then, you can always send "Guido" to "breaka his kneecaps!" ;-) As for your sweet "Muffy" I think you should get her, it's obvious you two belong together! Who could say no to a face like that???!!! :-) Loved the mermaid pic & can't wait to see your own mermaid creations! Hope you're having fun!

I've been thinking so much about home today, I guess seeing Katie's video and all of My Girls just solidifies how much I miss it! I miss being where "the seasons click!" Here in Oz they simply wain from one to the other, there's no defining mark and I guess that's a bit how my life feels here, no defining mark! My life with CC is wonderful, I love him and we enjoy our life together, but our bliss is being carried out on the wrong background! It will be 4 years next month, and I'm ready to get back onto the road home. We've been here long enough! It's hard because I know that regardless where we live one of us will always have to sacrifice. That's the price you pay sometimes to find happiness, but I don't regret it, I wouldn't trade him for anything!

It's about time for me to head to work. Send me a FB message and let me when is a good time to call you both. We can always have our "coffee, tea, or Michalob" via the phone!

I Love & Miss You So Very Much!

TOWFL

"Muffy" Bad Boy Friends, Coffee and Candles

Hello my girlies! I hope this finds you both doing well....Here,tired! But, feeling a little better due to the cool spell ( LOL ) these last couple of days....You can just smell Fall in the air! I can't wait! Pumpkins, leaves, baking bread, bonfires! I adore Fall!
It was so good chatting with you today, Blondie! I miss you so very much!
I hope all is well with you and yours! I so wish we could get together and catch up over coffee or tea or maybe a good Michelob. :) And I teared up today, too remembering the day when you had your baby boy. Time has flown...but, I don't think I will ever forget the sight of him as a little boy with his bear and his tonka trucks. He has grown into a wonderful young man with a beautiful wife and it wouldn't surprise me at all if you get to hear the patter of little feet soon :) I know you are so looking forward to that time :)
Gypsy, I have been looking at that beautiful moon at night and thinking of you :)
Gypsy! The goozlebugs!!!!!

Well girlies, as you can see by the absolutely precious picture above of " Muffy" I am contemplating getting a little dog from the no kill shelter. She is about 3 years old and was just left outside the shelter in 103 degree weather a few weeks ago in a carrier...she nearly died, but has recovered and has learned to begin trusting people...I just don't understand how people can treat animals that way.
She is a little skittish and I have been going there and taking her treats to win her affection...bribery I know, but I hope it's helping....she and her pal "Mason" are the official Greeters....they get the privileged life of staying in the office lobby with free run of the place...lol...they are a hoot....I almost hate to split them up....and Mason is the most adorable thing ever...his face is so comical.
I have been asking myself this week why I want this dog or any dog so badly when I am not sure if I even have time with the business to give it what it deserves...I think I am suffering from a type of "empty nest" syndrome....I just want something to love and take care of that depends on me....Does this make sense? MB is so independent and doesn't need me so much anymore and Jess is gone and beginning her own life...does this instinct to mother ever fade? I don't think so. Maybe one day I will have Grand babies I can mother, but in the meantime, this really sucks! I know that taking care of this little dog will not be easy and I know that she is probably set in her ways and heaven help us when these silly cats around here react to her! LOL....Should I, girls?
MB has decided that she is " girlfriend" with the before mentioned "rude redneck boy with no shut-up filter" whom we gave the " Maude and Guido" eyes to at her birthday movie night here with friends! Help! I don't even like this boy and I so don't trust him because they were talking before she went to Nashville, and while she was gone, he didn't call her and started talking to another girl, but expected her to talk to him again when she came home...he knows just the right things to say to make her think he can " read" and he is playing her like a fiddle....and she just won't tell him to leave her alone! I wish my girls had a little "tee tee and vinegar" in them when it comes to no good guys and could dump them like other girls have no problem doing when they are done wrong. I am very concerned about MB believing everything a boy tells her....geez! I wish I could just spank this boy! I am not sure my nerves can take going through all of this teenage angst again...lol... Any advice on how to cope with this, girls?
I came home a little while ago to every candle in the house lit and a fresh pot of coffee brewing and I am just sooooo blessed to have my honey! He is so good to me. And so, I guess I better scoot for now and go snuggle with him on the couch and convince him to watch something nice instead of the military channel...lol.
I love you both!
Candygirl

Mermaids, Marshmellows, and Goozlebugs

Dear Hearts,

Boy do I feel remiss. Just peeped at the blog and I'm getting WAY behind.
CandyG! You didn't tell me about the mermaid class. I LOVE IT!! I am SO excited for you. You will be wonderful. Joanna loves mermaids ya know.
And Blondie... aka MS THANG!! what up? Runnin to and fro, hither and yon and leaving your besties hangin?? Know you're busy and missin' CC.
Maybe for once we will ALL HAVE GREAT fellahs at one time. And ain't that a blip? Kirby and I have turned a major corner and I just know things will work out ( with shoulders like his they just GOTTA) The girls I enjoy more every day. They are planning secret gardens and marshmellow roasts all sorts of things. Wild Angels had their hands in this one. I really believe that. We just all seem to fit. And my Nic will have brother and sisters. How hard it is letting your babies go... I can barely stand it sometimes... it was so sudden... just BAM!! And they are out the door and you're left holding tonka trucks and plastic dinosaurs saying... just not so fast.. PLEASE (tearing up here)

Life sure gets its' way one doesn't it?

And I guess we are all gaining some wisdom. Of course you know it is my fondest wish for all of us to be
in Maine together.

But until that time, the goozlebugs will pine for our lost girl, and the last lightin bugs will make promises of better things and more time to visit.

We are in our Summers... aren't we girls?

Much love,
Gypsy

Happy Sunday morning, Girls! Hope this finds you all doing well. I am working on my second cup of coffee and feeling the effects of a very long day yesterday. Nine cakes and 120 cupcakes! It was great having both girls to help me :) Although, poor MB was dragging around a little slowly because she slipped on a patch of water and bruised both knees at the Firehouse Friday afternoon while doing a birthday square dance with Jessie Hayes...didn't even try to figure that one out. Needless to say, she has milked sympathy from everyone about her poor little knees and I think Jessie may have even bought her " responsibility ice cream " lol.
Last night, we let her have a few friends over and it was so hard to stay out of the den and give her privacy...lol..I wanted to hang with them, but I think that would have been "uncool" so I put Jess and Marlee up to it. They all had 9:00 curfews ( which was wonderful LOL ) and I am realizing that once again, I will probably hear the sound of teenagers piled up in my den quite often...it has been about 5 years since that has happened here and it's just so hard to imagine MB having obnoxious boys over here watching TV that you have to give the "Maude" eye to. ( And yes, I did give him the Maude eyes and Ringo gave him the "Guido" eyes...LOL...and so, maybe he won't come back again...He didn't even get Jessi's approval, so that says alot. Ugh! I wish we could do the old goat swap thing and choose our children's dating partners/mates...anyways, MB can't "date" until she is 16 so we have a little while longer to teach her what to look for in a guy and what to run from...lol.

She had a wonderful birthday, except for the bruised knees...lol...she and Jess and I went to the beach....it was beautiful! I don't think I have ever seen the water so clear that you could actually see your toes and your shadow on the bottom. It was funny listening to Jess squeal every time a minnow would run into her or she stepped on a flounder....LOL....I hope we can go back again soon before the Summer is over.
I am hoping Summer will be over soon! I am so ready for pumpkins and cool weather! I have been hearing the "goozlebugs" Gypsy! I love that sound! It means that soon it will be here! And it's funny, that that noise can also give me butterflies in the stomach still, because I always put that with school starting back soon when I was a little girl....LOL. Don't you miss the days of school supply and new clothes shopping and laying out your "first day back" outfit? And how we nearly passed out from heat stroke because we had no air conditioning and the new outfit was usually jeans and a long sleeved shirt? LOL I registered MB for 10th Grade this week and it was just one memory after another! School is so different now. The high school kids are being assigned their own laptops to replace books and paper! Can you imagine that? I just wish I could stop having nightmares after all of these years of trying to get my locker open and literally begging Madge for the combination while wrapped in a wet towel stark naked, of course...LOL I should have that analyzed!!! LOL Do you girls have locker dreams?
Guess what, Gypsy...I signed up for a painting class at the gallery! It will be a study in, you guessed it, mermaids! ( Don't you love the sexy picture I found of us in mermaid form? LOL ) I am so excited! Ringo told me that I needed to do something that was relaxing and just for me ( I love that man! ) and so I signed up. I think it will be alot of fun...I just wish I had my two best tea party friends to come, too.
Well, I guess I better scoot for now...I have to rouse the kids up to get ready for MB's belated birthday meal...we are going to the Spot of Tea for brunch...We are all looking forward to it, but Ringo is grimacing a little over it...lol...I am not sure what he thinks will happen there...LOL

I love you both so much!
Candygirl

Fatigue, Continued Search For The Scent of Life & Tea Parties

Hello My Lovely's!


I know I've been remiss in writing lately... In my defense, I've been so terribly busy and tired, with little time for anything. Since CC's been working out of town the Jetty job has been a big undertaking for me and although I've had help, I've still had to do much more than normal. I work, sleep, eat and start the cycle all over again. Not much time for anything else, other a quick "Like" on FB! Doesn't seem to be a lot of relief in the future, CC's been offered another out of town contract that starts August 16th for two weeks, the difference is he won't be able to come home on weekends this time, it will be a straight run. :-( The money is really good and with us planning a trip home next year we really can use it. I'm hoping that after a while I'll find my groove and feel more alive, but right now I'm just really worn out and exhausted, the work is so physically demanding. I've had a young guy helping me, but he's not very conscientious so, I have to do a good part of his work as well, but I'm thankful for the help. Some young people have no idea how to really work, I'm so thankful our kid's all know how to give their best at whatever they do, it says a lot for the wonderful people they are! :-) Enough whining from me.

Thank you both so much for your insightful comments on my perfume search, I have to say, they both made me cry! You're such true Friends and I appreciate each of you more than words can say! I haven't made my mind up yet, but still experimenting with new fragrance. This past week, it was Chanel - No.5, Chanel - Chance & Thierry Mugler - Angel. I like them, but they're not me. Will keep you posted on the progress. My vanity top looks like the display counter at Macy's!

Candy, I've been thinking about you and I know how hard it is seeing your Baby grow up so quickly. I think as Mother's we want to see our children grow, prosper, and be independent... Yet, by the same token, there's this inane ability to always see them as Babies, no matter how old they are! We nurture those little lives inside our bodies for 9 months and bond with them in a way that ties us to that little person for all eternity. So, no matter how old they get, our Babies are just who they will forever be! I've been seeing the always amazing pictures of your creations on FB and let me just say, Wow! You're so talented! I know it must be hard work, I can only imagine the time that goes into such a work of art. You take care of yourself and have some well deserved rest, even if it's just an hour in a hot bath with a good book and a glass of wine!

Gypsy, I know you're having doubts about taking on such a big responsibility, 6 children is a huge undertaking, but I think if anybody can do it, you can! I think once you get to Maine and have some time with TC & the Kid's you'll know for sure and make the right choice... Either it will come naturally, or you'll know it's not for you. Either way, your bliss is out there, whether it's in Maine, or somewhere else in this big wide world and I know it will find you. Can't wait to hear about your projects an all of the news with your writing... Let us know soon what's happening!

Well, My Darlings, I'm going to enjoy my Man while he's here. Tomorrow I'll travel to the job he's been working on, just for the day, he has to do a couple of hours of finishing work and wants me to see the town. Even though we'll only have a week together before he's gone again, we'll make the most of it! :-)

I would love nothing more than to be home sharing a pot of tea and goodies with My Girls! I owe you both a long catch session via phone and will try to call next week. In the mean time, know that you're both always close in my thoughts and I love you dearly!

Always,


TOWFL

Catchin up.

Hiya Gals,

Hope this finds you all doin' well. Me? Pretty good I s'pose. Just waiting to go to Maine and asking myself if I REALLY know what I am doing... 5 kids... 6 every other weekend... sometimes I'm just don't know if I'm up to it. Tim is so great but sometimes... WOW! So a lot of internal juggling going on these days.

Other than that, creatively I am doing awesome! Lot of very positive things going on. I won't bore ya'll with details just yet, BUT LOTS of work and hopefully I will reap the rewards of years of work.

Candygirl I enjoyed out 3 hour pot o coffee and look forward to doing it again.
BLONDIE... why do I feel so detached from you. You HAVENT even written to your besties. What's goin' on in your world.

Tim and I found the perfect property. He went to see it and it's a GOTHIC Victorian. A lot of cutwork and nooks and crannies, bay window and such. BUT IT NEEDS a lot of work, still we love it and are debating the pros and cons. It has apple tree, cherry, pear, a raspberry patch, gardens, wild honey, a trout stream.. and 6 bedrooms... the list goes on and on... so we shall see. It might be a good investment if the world doesnt fall apart in the next few years:)

I miss my girlies. We need each other.

Gypsy

My Sweet Baby Girl

Hello girls! I hope this finds you both doing well and having enjoyed a lazy Sunday.
Here...NOT!!!! Ringo and I gave the kitchen a deep cleaning, waxed the floors, repainted all of the cabinet doors, threw away all of the dusty ivy...lol...and generally decluttered! ( This seems to be a theme lately with us ). I cannot even believe the layers of dust on top of the refrigerator! And the nails are absolutely ruined by all of the 409 usage to clean the grease build up from the chickens...LOL...Now they look like chickens again! But, even though I feel like I have been run over by a truck and walking like Fred Sanford, it is nice knowing that that project is done...now on to the next! It seems like the more you do, the more you notice that you need to do. I am just getting too old for this.
Maybe that nice retirement community in Fairhope is looking better and better...LOL.
Gypsy, my heart is aching for you today. I know how you are feeling. Letting them go is not easy. This is something I have really struggled with these last few months. But, aren't you so very proud of the wonderful man your son has become? (It was so good seeing him Friday. MB thinks he is just the bees knees :) He is finding his way in life and I can't wait to see where it leads him. I am just so proud of our children for not being afraid to step out and see what other places have to experience. I wish I could hug you right now. :)
Blondie, where have you been, girl??? I have missed you here! Please write and catch us up on what is going on in your life. A new job? :)
On Friday, my sweet MB turns 15. This is, I can tell already, going to be an emotional week. She will be going to get her permit next week. I can't believe she is getting older. I would give anything to turn back the clock and go into her room and have a good old game of Barbies or My Little Pony again. You know, she would probably play with if I asked her. :) I can so see us doing this this week to mark her 15th birthday. I may even have to buy her a new Barbie for old times sake. It is just so depressing to me to even walk down that isle at Walmart. I have a hard time not going down it. I can remember when I had to go down it with her to drool over the latest one and would just want get my grocery shopping over with...now I would love to be "drug" there again by a little hand.
Why is it so hard letting them grow up? Mama didn't tell me how hard this was going to be.
She is happy that Jess is coming home this weekend and so am I! She has had a tough week at work and is so looking forward to coming home. I love it when she comes home and curls up in her bed in the Beachy Room and sleeps like a baby. I am hoping that we can have a girls day at the beach on Friday. I actually have no orders for Friday! YAY!
Well girlies, I will close for now. My bed is calling.....Going to go take vitamins, Gypsy :) and hopefully get some sleep tonight.
I wish you both could be here to share a cup of Sleepytime tea with me.
Goodnight kisses and hugs to you both.
Sweet Dreams.
Love,
Candygirl

Devine Secrets and Love's Bouquet

Well.. IT HAS been a lazy Sunday of gentle rain and muscles relaxers. My back is almost "Back" to normal.
And tomorrow I start counting down 6 weeks to Maine. I can't wait! I know you enjoyed your girls this weekend Candygirl. I miss cooking Sunday breakfast for my N- but he will be down this coming weekend.

Now as to the fragrance of love, I have to disagree with Blondies Tresor Candygirl. I think that every love, even stages of self- love needs to have a new fragrance to celebrate lessons learned and yet to bes. I think the search of a new fragrance is very VERY important. Part of Blondies journey of creating herself anew and celebrating what she has found with CC. Maybe she should mix her own. You can get all the essential elements online. We are all so unique, and our stories so very individual - not part of the every woman norm... I think a the search of a new fragrance goes hand in hand with a new life. Blondie, you might not ever find another Tresor, but what you do find, that leaves your Southern essence in the air wherever you go... will tell the story of who you are becoming... not just who you have been.

and just cuz we are SO fabulous

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikS5j6drFzw&feature=related

all my love,
Gypsy

Loving this Rainy Sunday....

Hey girlies!
Happy Sunday!
I am so loving this rainy day. We haven't had a long rainy day like this in ages!
Don't you just love to wake up to a dark house and the sound of a gentle rain fall?
I woke up late and cooked a big breakfast for everyone and it was so nice to have both girls at the table this morning. I love cooking with my honey, although I still don't understand why he puts Tiger Sauce in his grits and on his eggs...LOL...That is just Un-Southern...LOL...and he doesn't like biscuits. How could anyone not like biscuits? I need to keep working on him about those biscuits!
I have been working on downloading cake pictures to the website and facebook album...my computer is as slow as I am! I can't believe how long it's been since I posted pictures...It's amazing to look back through the pictures and the amount of work that went into them and think..." Did I really do all of that???" Sometimes the days are lost in a blur of icing and cake...lol...and candy. Gypsy, do you still not want to see another Dragon Fly with glitter on it again any time soon?
You were so much help and alot of fun to have there. We make a good team. I'm so glad you came and helped Thursday. I so wish Blondie could get in on some of the candy making. Maybe one day you can come home and we will have a Hello Kitty Lollipop making session, but this time we will have to have Delta Diva's. That would be a blast!
Blondie, I have been giving much thought to your perfume issue. I think that you should go back to what you have always known. When I smell that scent, it makes me smile because I always think of you. It makes me miss you and wish you were here. That scent is and always will be linked to you. You have worn it for so long and it has just became a part of who you are. People say that a certain scent can bring back powerful memories. I know that is true. I always match different scents to different memories and catching a whiff of one of those scents always takes me back. Love's Baby Soft - my first perfume in 5th Grade. Charlie - my second, more seductive perfume of the middleschool years...LOL..Whatever Beth had on her dresser I could sneak - The perfume of my high school years.lol...White Linen - The perfume of my early twenties that I always associate with my first scary job in the big world and the smell of it always lingered on my sweet baby's head after she snuggled with me... Givenchy Amarige- The perfume of most of my first marriage- good and bad memories attached to that one, it was a good, quick gift that husband number one always purchased for most occasions..I usually had a bottle or two at all times ....Carolina Herrara- The perfume of my second marriage and some of the best memories yet....Now, there have been other perfumes along the way, some I can't even pronounce...lol...but when you are wearing a fragrance and people stop you and ask, " what is that? it smells wonderful!" then you are wearing a scent that is made for your body chemistry and sometimes, even if you stray from it to try other things, you always go back to that scent. Tresor is as much a part of you as your Southern Roots and curly blonde hair. It would be like you giving up Merlot and drinking Cold Duck!!! :) And so, Blondie, you should go back to Tresor. It is who you are, and why should you have to put an important part of your past away? So, I'm tellin you to spritz a little on behind the ears and between the girls, put your bright pink lipstick on, powder the nose, put on those power glasses,don't ever forget to drop your g's" and and strut your stuff, girlfriend. Why let go of it? Embrace it as the scent that, in it's part, made you the beautiful woman you are today, defined all that you were in the past, and now carries you into the next chapter of your life.

Well, girlies, I suppose I should go for now. I have to do that proposal for those McDonald's People that I have been procrastinating, Gypsy. I emailed the stupid sketch of the cake, but haven't pulled together the "fancy little finger food" thing yet...LOL ( Something tells me that if we get that job, it will be one that I will NEVER forget. ) Diva men and I do just not jive. They will cut you down quicker than a good old " Bless her heart" ever thought about. Many stories to tell on this subject...LOL.

I love you both!
See you here soon.
Candygirl

A Woman's Right To Perfume, Hormones & Pink Flannel PJ's

Hello My Dears,

So sorry I've been remiss these past two weeks... Have felt just too yuckie to post much but, here I am now! :-)

Gypsy... I'm so happy for you, TK & the Girls. I had this dream about you the other night, it's like you were Marmee and had all of your "Little Women" around you, they were so sweet. I know what an absolute blessing you'll be to them and vise versa. I can't wait to hear all the news when you get there. It really is strange that all three of us have had similar experiences, and like our Candy Girl, I hope you'll be as happy as we both are. Candy, I did smile when I read your blog, those are definitely sweet memories. Yes, me & CC we've had our share of difficulties and hard times, but it's made us even closer than ever. I guess that truly the measure of a good relationship, if you can stick it out even through the hard times. I'm so glad that my Best Girls have found such great guys! :-)

Girls, you are preaching to the choir! I so totally know how you're both feeling and Candy, I know it's hormones. I'm having so many of the same symptoms that you are. I started natural ones, but didn't go to the specialist for the bio-identical, but CC & I have talked about it, I'm definitely making an appointment soon! I never had these issues either, until my hormones got so screwed up! Extreme fatigue, insomnia, muscle aches, brain fog, bouts of depression, night sweats, acne, and the list goes on and on! You should both get Suzanne Somers, "Breakthrough, 8 Easy Steps to Wellness & "Ageless, The Naked Truth About Bio-Identical Hormones" they really are worth reading. Candy, go online and do some research on them. I'm sure there are Dr's in the area. And Gypsy, just cause you still have your pieces & parts don't mean that yours are in balance, get them checked! I honestly think this is the key to everything with how we're feeling. Keep me posted on what you both find out.

As you both know, I'm still in search for the "perfect scent." To date, I've purchased 5 bottles of expensive perfume and still nothing is me! CC just says, keep looking! In the back of my mind I'm thinking that he'll get tired of me buying expensive perfume and tell me to go back to my Tresor, but it hasn't happened yet. Right now, I'm working my way through the Dior line, and nothing is working for me. They smell nice, but just not my style... Any suggestions? At this point "Hello Kitty" is looking pretty good!

I think I'm secretly punishing my poor CC, I've been living in my pink flannel jammies, which I know he hates, but in my Tresor deprived state I'm enjoying it a little too much. ;-) What is it about flannel that makes a girl feel better when she's a bit low? Haven't figured that one out yet.

Candy, I so agree, wish we could all be together, share a few bottles of wine and talk through all of these things that are happening. I miss you both so much! Hope you have a great time with your Girls this week, I know you're happy to have them home! How sweet of N & V to give you & Ringo a few days away, you really did need it!

Can I just say how very happy I am to know that my Best Girls have finally found men who love & appreciate them, cause you two are the best! Gypsy, can't think of anything I would rather do than be at your wedding next Spring!

Love you both muchly!

The One Who Followed Love

Summer's Fading Fast....

Hey my girlies! I have missed you both so very much. I have finally got a few moments to collect my thoughts and type...LOL. It has been a busy time at work but it is winding down a little....My Ringo and I have been in Biloxi for a couple of days at the Beau for a much needed get-away ( courtesy of Grandpa Nick)...That dear, sweet man treated us because he said we were working too hard and needed to get away. ( It has been so nice getting away, but back to reality tomorrow..LOL.) I so wish that I could spend time with Nick and Vicky more than once a year. I finally get good in laws and they live 3000 miles away. Vicky and I have the wildest phone conversations, though. I love talking to her. She is so funny! I wish you both could meet her. She is a doll.
Gypsy, last Saturday afternoon when the bad weather kept you from visiting, you missed out on a pitcher full of my new favorite drink...LOL... It's called Delta Diva..I had it waiting for you...It consists of Butterscotch Brandy, Coconut Rum, and Pineapple Juice...Yum! We will definitely have to schedule another time for you to visit before you go on your big journey so that you can try it.....I am praying for you that this will be "The ONE" and that you will go there and both fall madly in love and have your "happily ever after." I know you are so excited and nervous and anxious all at the same time. I remember how very nervous I was before my Ringo came to visit for the first time. I was shaking so hard when I met him at the airport that he had to just hold me for a few moments so that I could calm down...lol...who would've thought that we would still be here 7 years later?
I am looking at him from the corner of my eye as I type this and it makes me almost want to tear up thinking of all that we have been through and how much I love this man. He is so sweet and so good to me. I can't imagine my life without him. Gypsy, I wish this for you more than I can say. And I am so sure that Blondie is reading this now and smiling at her own sweet memories of meeting her true love for the first time and wishes the same for you. We have your back, girl! :)

Gypsy, I can so identify with you...where did all of these health issues come from?..I know the same old reasons that Dr. # 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 have given me...weight, age, lack of exercise,lack of sleep, improper nutrition, yadda, yadda, yadda...( I think I am smart enough to know that they are completely right concerning those things, and I also know that I have much work to do in all of those areas) but,I have been trying to back up in my mind to a beginning point and all I can come up with is that everything went down hill from the hysterectomy forward. I honestly think ( where I'm concerned anyway, Gypsy still has her parts and pieces) it goes back to lack of hormones at too young of an age to be without them. This topic is one that we could probably cover in several hours and two or three bottles of wine....I so wish I had never had surgery. I just haven't been the same since. I think fybromyalgia is just a new little catch phrase to diagnose anything that can't seem to be pin pointed. I am soooo tired of being in pain all of the time. I have come to the conclusion that drugs do not help, so I don't do that except for Aleve ( which really doesn't help much). Some days are just not worth getting out of bed. Some days it hurts to just walk...and if you can imagine, my hair even hurts.. But, I have found that I can't give up and give in. It seems that when I do, I feel worse. I would just love to know what it would be like to have one day without feeling this way...one day with no pain and being able to just bend over or stoop down without saying, oh, oh, oh on the way back up...lol....sometimes I wonder if it's like this now, how will it be in 10 years? I worry that maybe something is wrong with me and when the Dr. finally finds out what it is, it will be too late to do anything about it. I have had every test imaginable. I guess about the only thing I can do at this point is live with it and try to make the best of it and try to forget about it, but it seems these days it gets harder and harder. And I always tell myself that it could be so much worse and to stop complaining. Any advice, girls? I am so discouraged and worried about the future....I just want to be able to do the things I used to do and more than anything I look forward to playing with my grandchildren one day.
O.K...shaking myself mentally here...enough talk of distress....my girls are coming home this weekend!!! I am so looking forward to them being home. Jess will be staying until Tuesday of next week, so we have alot of catching up to do....Hoping we can go to the beach on Monday...
Well, I better scoot for now...got to go the grocery store...I am once again out of everything! For someone who is in WalMart every day for the shop, I don't understand how I let this happen..LOL
Wishing we could all curl up this afternoon with a pot of tea and talk girls...I could really use the "girl" company.
Love and hugs to you both.
Candygirl

Come September

Good morning Kindreds,

May I just say GRRRR!! Woke up irritated and in a poo poo MOOD!!
I had to chuckle though because after almost 2 weeks of no one writing
It appears we all may be At least that’s the message I received from blogspot.
So I am writing this in WORD and transferring over later.
So how has everyone been? I have been good, although Never EVER
as B.R.O.K.E as I am now. Those tornadoes and my illness are hard to
bounce back from, I will get there though. Not a whole lot going on.
trying to deal with a long distance romance with 4 little girls involved
is proving challenging to say the least. It’s funny that both of you know the
frustrations of long-distance romance. This 6’4 Yankee is practically
perfect for this 5’4 Southern girl… so we will make it work. I am going up the
end of August. The girls ages 5-12 race to the phone every time I call to ask me questions
or tell me all of their news. They so want a female in their lives. They have NO ONE.
No Grandmothers, no Mom, or at least none of them to speak of, and they are such
sweet girls. SOOO… I am taking my vegameatavitamins and building myself up.
Speaking of… DO YA WANNA TELL ME WHAT in the HELL has happened to our health? We are much too young to feel this damn old. Aches, pains, lack of energy and
All together… blah!! I HONESTLY think it is for the most part what we are putting
into our bodies. I AM TRYING to do better, exercise a little more. I just keep telling myself that is I can work hard and sort all of this out – come September, I will be walking
on Prince Edward Island hand and hand with the man I am suppose to be with. You girls
KNOW I am not a patient person. So I have given up sugar – ‘cept for the occasional coconut bon bon Candy girl and I am taking loads of vitamins and supplements and exercising. So that come September, I will have the energy to give four little girls and one Yankee boy my very best so that COME SPRING… MAYBE… my best girls can be with me on Prince Edward Island when I marry one wonderful man and 4 little girls.
And Blondie, thanks for the email to the Kirby, it helped give him perspective.

Love you both and miss my girls SO MUCH! More than words.

Gypsy

Back to the shop.......

Good morning, girlies! I have missed you both so very much! Gypsy!!!!! Maine????!!!!
I am so happy for you and can't wait to hear all of the details!!! come for coffee!!! That has always been my dream place to visit! Now, I will have the perfect excuse! And, it's so near my "Friend" Contessa...LOL...I told Jess that I WILL cook with her one day and she just tells me that I am being stalkerish....LOL
Blondie, so wish we could experience some of your cold rainy weather here! It would be wonderful to curl up with a good book and a cup of hot tea and listen to the rain... It has been so hot, although Nashville was chilly compared to here.
Just got back home yesterday and enjoyed seeing my baby so much. Beth and Marlee went with me and we had a blast. Jess took us to Lebanon and there was the neatest square with a fountain in the middle and very old buildings surrounding it - all antique shops! Loved it!
We walked down the streets of downtown Nashville and it is about 3/4 bars and 1/4 boot shops..LOL...Not exactly my kind of place, but it is neat. And the funny things is that with all of the places to go, we wound up in TJ Maxx...LOL.
It was hard leaving MB, but I know they will have so much fun. Jess has so much planned for her...I know the time will fly....I miss my baby and her little cat Cleo is missing her, too. Poor Cleo can't stop crying at the back door and sitting in the window sill looking in and waiting for her " Mawee"...I let her come in last night and sleep in MB's room...She was so loud this morning...it's like she is asking where her girl is.
On the way back home, we stopped in a little town called Hartselle and stumbled upon a whole street lined with old buildings that were antique shops and the coolest restaurant ever called Cahoots...it had all of these little cubbies in it and was filled with antiques that were all placed with no rhyme or reason...we then stopped for peaches and peach ice cream in Chilton County.don't you love summer peaches? Can't wait to bake a pie tonight for my honey....it amazed me that the drive home took 10 hours...LOL.
It was nice getting away for a couple of days, but back to reality...LOL...I have an order board waiting on me and so I guess I need to scoot! Cupcakes, here I come...LOL
I love you both and hope you have a wonderful day!
Candygirl

Southern babes in a Yankee World

So my Fabulous Southern Divas how goes it? Not a whole lot here just up early to crank out a productive Monday. Hope all is well with you guys. I am flying to MAINE in 6 weeks to be with Kirby and the girls. It's not easy, not going to be easy, but well worth it. Kirby is perfect for me. And although I ALREADY shakin up that little ole town in Maine, this Gypsy girl finally feels at peace :)
Candygirl I have already emailed Blondie a link to the awesome CHEAP real estate for sale in this quaint Maine hamlet. I want to get Blondie and CC there and you and RINGO.

THAT would be incredible and only 6 hours from Prince Edward Island. I will keep you guys posted. I am missing my boy SOOO much. Candygirl I might follow your route and head thataway. Hope to hear from you guys soon.

Love you so much!

Gypsy

Wild Cherry Trees all Silvery in the moonshine and backyard swings

Hey my girlys,

Well.. Life huh? Candygirl I am glad your Daddy's
test went well. Talked to your momma earlier. It is so hard seeing parents age. Watching mom and dad sometimes my heart hurts. Time is passing so quickly that when I really stop to think about it, it makes me want to cry. That's why it's so important to revel in the magic of these ordinary days.

Blondie, I feel like you will get back home. I think the picture of the backyard swing should become our collective touchstone. Blondie, for you so you can get back to Alabama Air. Candygirl, so that you can find more time for you... and this Gypsy girl? So she can find her home and the one to share it with.

Do you remember when we all turned over in D's swing? It's all on home movies. One minute we were laughing and playing the next we had been kicked on our butts and were crying... little did we know it's a metaphor for life.

Candygirl, I would love to shop with you soon. And Blondie.... there has got to be something....

I am really wanting the Amelia Earhart Daredevil meets Gibson Girl look...

so my lil something something going on.... well you guys DON'T tell anyone yet, but a certain INCREDIBLE fellah has bought me a ticket to Maine, the first week in August. I am going to meet him and his FOUR GIRLS... ages 12-5. He is a single Dad and has been since the youngest was born. So we will see. He is 6 hours from Prince Edward Island ;) so I will be walking the White Way to Light and skipping stones at the Lake of Shining Water with a 6'4 Yankee boy who thinks I hung the moon.... shhhhhh... Mom knows, but she is the ONLY one. So my darlings... I believe the Summer will bring some beginnings for us all. I miss my bosom friends. And I pray we all find our magic in ordinary days...

Much Love,

Gypsy

Eddie Money & High Fashion

Candy Girl, thanks so much for your sweet words, they mean the world to me! I know something will give, maybe the Jewelry will take off and that can be my full time job! How great would that be??!!!

CC & I are praying and thinking of JC, M & all of you today. Sending our love an a warm hug to each of you. Tell M I'll call this week to check on them. Thanks so much for letting us know how things go, I'll check back later. I was just thinking about JC tonight, remembering when I would come and spend the night with you... Every morning while he was getting ready for work he played his music, I came to appreciate Conway Twitty, "Hello Darlin", that song always reminds me of your Daddy when I hear it. :-)

I miss those days too, we had so much fun and got in such fun trouble ;-) I posted something on FB for you, hope it makes you smile today.

I would love to be there on go get makeovers with you two, we would have such a great time! Keep me posted on the "new yous!"

Gypsy, hope your Monday is going good! Have a mater sammich for me today, ever since I read your post I can't get them out of my mind! Reckon I'll have to try and find me some home grown maters at the store, it's too cold to grow them here right now, but as soon as the warm weather is back I'll have someg growin in the back yard!

Love you both and miss you terribly!

The One Who Followed Love